Which antibiotic is recommended for neonatal gonorrhea exposure?

Which antibiotic is recommended for neonatal gonorrhea exposure?

• A. Cefixime
• B. Erythromycin
• C. Ceftriaxone
• D. Gentamicin

Answer: (C)

Gonorrheal exposure at birth can lead to serious infection in the newborn, so the treatment needed is a systemic antibiotic that reliably covers Neisseria gonorrhoeae and reaches ocular tissues. Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin given systemically, is the best choice because it effectively treats gonorrhea and achieves therapeutic levels in the bloodstream and eye, helping prevent ophthalmia neonatorum and possible disseminated infection. Erythromycin, while useful for addressing possible chlamydial co-infection and historically used for ocular prophylaxis, does not adequately treat gonorrhea when used alone. Cefixime is an oral agent and is not the preferred route or first-line in neonates due to concerns about efficacy and pharmacokinetics in this age group. Gentamicin lacks reliable activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is not the recommended treatment for gonorrheal exposure.

Gonorrheal exposure at birth can lead to serious infection in the newborn, so the treatment needed is a systemic antibiotic that reliably covers Neisseria gonorrhoeae and reaches ocular tissues. Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin given systemically, is the best choice because it effectively treats gonorrhea and achieves therapeutic levels in the bloodstream and eye, helping prevent ophthalmia neonatorum and possible disseminated infection.

Erythromycin, while useful for addressing possible chlamydial co-infection and historically used for ocular prophylaxis, does not adequately treat gonorrhea when used alone. Cefixime is an oral agent and is not the preferred route or first-line in neonates due to concerns about efficacy and pharmacokinetics in this age group. Gentamicin lacks reliable activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is not the recommended treatment for gonorrheal exposure.